How to Write a Wedding Thank-You Note

Wedding gifts and thank-you notes go hand in hand. Not sending out a letter showing your gratitude for the gifts you received at your weeding is tacky and inconsiderate. Send personalized thank-you notes to all of your gift-bearing wedding guests. This is your chance to let them know how much you appreciate their thoughtful presents.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wedding Guest Books
• Calligraphy Pens
• Stationery
• Postage Stamps
• Personalized Stationery

1. Consider ordering formal note cards with your married name or monogram on them. These cost about $150 and up for 50 cards, depending on the quality of paper and number of details you include. Order these notes at the same time that you order your invitations.

2. You can also opt for preprinted thank-you notes from a card or stationery store. These are much less expensive, and there are lots of styles to choose from. Expect to pay $5 to $10 for eight cards.

3. Be sure to purchase plenty of extra cards. You may receive more gifts than you expected.

4. Handwrite each note.

5. Mention each gift and tell the giver how you will use the item, if possible.

6. Refer to any special effort the person went to for you, such as traveling a long distance to attend the wedding or giving a special toast.

7. Consider adding a line telling invited guests who were unable to attend the wedding how sorry you were that they couldn't be there with you.

8. Send separate notes for shower and wedding gifts. Even if you received two gifts from the same person within a short period of time, each one deserves its own acknowledgment.

9. Be timely. According to etiquette guru Amy Vanderbilt, a thank-you note should be written within two to three weeks of receiving a gift - six to eight weeks at the very most.

Tips & Warnings

• Use collectors' stamps from the post office for creative flair.
• If possible, include a photograph of you taken with the person who gave the gift, at your wedding. People will enjoy this gesture.
• Send thank-you notes to all of your wedding vendors to show how much you appreciated their efforts. Also send notes to your wedding party to thank them for taking part in your big day.
• Even if you thanked guests in person, you are still expected to send out a formal note.

[madr]

on 10/19/2009 Do the cards have to be specific Thank You cards for weddings? They look so boring. They're usually plain ivory with birds or two hearts or two rings. Ordinary cards (blank cards) are more interesting. You can pick any design (classic oil/ watercolor reprints to whimsical autumn) in various colors too. Why do wedding stationeries have to be so formal and bland?

[taskeinc]

on 8/11/2008 Great tips .. thanks for sharing!

[cftick]

on 3/1/2007 To use mailing labels for wedding invitations is in very poor taste.

Delegate the addressing to your attendents and family if their penmanship is good, then you don't get a bad case of writers cramp.

on 8/20/2006 When sending out Bridal Shower Invitations or Wedding Invitations, use mailing labels and make two copies of the labels. Use one copy of the mailing labels, for the invitations and keep one copy of the mailing labels for the Thank-You(s). You will save hours in hand-writing your wedding labels, and save the bride/groom time [as the host of the bridal shower] when sending thank you. Another great tip is to make an EXCEL document, with information such as Date Gift was Received, Guest who gave gift and What the gift was. Don't forget to make a separate column for if Thank You card was sent out and when. Have a great wedding!

on 8/8/2006 When you are writing a thank you note for money, mention how you plan to use the money. Even if you write the same use on many thank you notes, people like to have a clear picture of how their gifts are used.